Assembly of Brain Circuits and the Cellular Mechanisms of Behavior

Our laboratory is interested in the assembly of brain circuits and the mechanisms by which the activity of neurons in these circuits give rise to behavior. We focus on the process of neuron addition into the vertebrate brain, and seek to understand how new neurons integrate into the circuits of the adult brain, and their role in information processing and storage. To address these questions our laboratory develops new technologies to genetically manipulate the development and biophysical properties of neurons, and to identify their connectivity. To investigate how behavior arises from the activity of neurons in brain circuits, we have developed a new method to produce transgenic songbirds that allows us to manipulate key genes involved in the assembly of circuits that mediate vocal learning behavior.

Neuronal integration into brain circuits

The brain of adult vertebrates harbors a population of neuronal stem cells that continues to proliferate throughout the life of the animal, and whose progeny migrate through the brain, differentiate into neurons, and establish synaptic contacts with other neurons in the circuit. We are interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control the integration of these neurons into neuronal circuits.

Assembly of brain circuits mediating vocal communication

Birds communicate through song, and their brains have specialized circuits dedicated to the production and perception of song. We are investigating how these circuits are assembled, and how their activity gives rise to song. To study these questions our laboratory has developed new methods that allow us to genetically modify the brain of songbirds. We are generating transgenic songbirds to manipulate key genes involved in the assembly of vocal communication circuits. In addition, we are investigating the cellular mechanisms that maintain stability of behavior over long periods of time.

Genetic tools to identify neuronal circuit connectivity

Understanding the computations that take place in brain circuits requires identifying how neurons in those circuits are connected. We have designed a new genetic strategy to identify the wiring diagram of brain circuits based on transneuronal activation of transcription. This system will allow us not only to identify the connections between neurons, but also to genetically modify the physiological properties of circuits of connected neurons. We anticipate that this research will provide fundamental insights to understand how neuronal activity in brain circuits gives rise to behavior.

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